Commentary: The Democratic brand is so toxic in North Dakota, Democrats lie and call themselves 'Independents'

Former state Sen. Mac Schneider accepts the endorsement for U.S. House at the Democratic convention March 17. Eric Hylden / Forum News Service

Over the weekend the Grand Forks Herald published an interview with Democratic U.S. House candidate Mac Schneider. In the interview, Schneider described himself as an “independent.”

Schneider, the Democratic candidate for North Dakota’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, visited for an hour last week with the Herald’s editorial board. The board noted that it asked his opponent, Kelly Armstrong, if Armstrong is a “Trump Republican.” Armstrong responded affirmatively.

The Herald subsequently asked Schneider: “What are you?”

“I’m a North Dakota independent,” he said. “That’s how I tried to lead the caucus when I was in the Legislature — in a bipartisan fashion, working together to best suit North Dakota.

That’s a bit rich.

Anyone familiar with Schneider’s work at the Legislature is familiar with his approach to leadership there. It was generally cordial, sure, but explicitly partisan. Schneider was not above maneuvers and gimmicks calculated to benefit Democrats, politically, as opposed to promoting good policy for North Dakota.

But it’s Schneider branding himself an “independent” that is really something to behold.